Mixer ladle structure

ABSTRACT

Improved structure includes a substantially rectangular spout box made of refractory lined plates having extended side plates at each end extending longitudinally of the ladle body from opposite sides of the spout box, and gusset plates connected with and extending between the side plates transversely of the ladle body on opposite sides of the spout box.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,730,500 McAfee 1 May 1, 1973 I MIXER LADLESTRUCTURE [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Richard .I. McAfee,Forest Hills UNITED STATES PATENTS Borough, 2,341,054 2 1944 McFeaters..266/39 [73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburgh Przmary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Atz0rney-D0nald S. Ferito[22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 210,000 [57] ABSTRACT Improvedstructure includes a substantially rectangular spout box made ofrefractory lined plates having [52] US. Cl ..266/39, 105/264 extendedside plates at each end extending longitw [51] Int. Cl ..F27d 15/00dinany f the l d body f Opposite sides of the Field Of Search ..266/l3,36 H, 39; pout box and gusset plates connected with and extendingbetween the side plates transversely of the ladle body on opposite sidesof the spout box.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure MIXER LADLE STRUCTURE The present inventionrelates generally to molten metal handling equipment and moreparticularly to an improved structure for a molten metal mixer ladle ofthe submarine or Pugh type.

The Pugh type ladle is shown and described on page 446 of the NinthEdition of The Making, Shaping and Treating of Steel" published by U. S.Steel Corporation.

The structural behavior of submarine type ladle bodies existing prior tomy invention can be described as follows: Deflection analyses indicatedthat the cast spout box of the ladle, which was substantially oval inshape, was extremely flexible, due to its curvature, as compared withstraight shell plate. The spouts tended to fold and shift stresses tothe body shell immediately below. As this shift occurred, compressiveforces traveled diagonally downward and outward, through the body shell,to meet under the spout. This created the effect of transverse forcecomponents which tended to spread the body shell in area under thespout. These forces causes bending stresses which far exceeded the bodyshell strength. Since this was so, it had to be concluded that the bricklining assisted the body shell in resisting spreading. Accordingly, ithad to be further concluded that when the brick lining wore thin,spreading and sagging occurred.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide animproved mixer ladle structure to eliminate the abovementioned spreadingaction and substantially reduce stresses in the spout box area of theshell body of the ladle.

It is a more specialized object of my invention to provide an improvedmixer ladle structure as set forth above which includes a substantiallyrectangular spout box made with refractory lined plates having extendedside plates at each end extending longitudinally of the ladle body fromopposite sides of the spout box, and gusset plates connected with andextending between the side plates transversely of the ladle body onopposite sides of the spout box.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and drawing in which:

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a perspective view of a submarinetype mixer ladle having the improved structure of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2designates generally the body of a submarine type molten metal mixerladle having a charging and discharging port 4 intermediate its ends. Aspout box 6, which is substantially rectangular in shape and made ofsteel plates lined with refractory R, is mounted on said body over andcommunicating with said opening with its long dimension extendingtransversely of the body 2. Steel plates 8 are attached to the end edgesH) of the spout box 6 and extend longitudinally ofthe body 2. Each ofthe four side plates 8 is in the form of a right triangle disposed withone side parallel with one of the end edges 10 and its hypotenuse 12extending downwardly and outwardly from the top of the spout box to apoint 14 on the body 2 remote from the spout box. The plates 8 arerigidly affixed to the body 2 and the spout box by welding or similarmeans.

A gusset plate 16 18 connected with and extends between the hypotenuseedges of the plates 8 transversely of the body 2 on opposite sides ofthe spout box.

The upper edge 18 of each gusset plate 16 is rigidly affixed to theupper edge of the spout box. The bottom edge 20 of each of the gussetplates 16 is concave and conforms to the transverse contour of the body2. The gusset plates 16 are rigidly affixed to the body 2.

The rectangular-shaped spout box 6 is far less flexible than theoval-shaped cast spout boxes heretofore used. The extended side plates 8develop a bending strength through the spout box area equal to that ofthe full body shell. This permits compressive forces to pass through thebody shell and spout at the same level, thus eliminating most of thespreading action and avoiding a stress increase around the spouts. Thegusset plates 16 tie the spout box, side plates and body shell togetherand produce the effect of a pair of triangular beams spanning the top ofthe ladle. The beams thus formed pick up compressive forces approachingthe spout and carry them to the side plates, thus practicallyeliminating the spreading action.

The following advantages arising from the improved structure will beobvious to those versed in the art:

1. The body shell will be self-supporting, minimizing stresses imposedon the lining, which should result in greater lining life.

2. There is less likelihood of the body shell being damaged when thelining is permitted to wear thin.

3. The body shell bending stresses will be reduced by more than percentresulting in greater reliability.

4. There is created a potential reduction in body shell thickness whilemaintaining the same factor of safety.

5. Castings in the spout box area may be eliminated.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, other adaptationsand modifications may be made without departing from the scope of thefollowing claim.

I claim:

1. In a molten metal mixer ladle having a substantially ellipsoidalhollow body with a charging and discharging opening intermediate theends thereof, the improvement therewith of a substantially rectangularspout box formed of steel plates disposed on and communicating with saidopening, the ends of said spout box extending longitudinally of saidbody, plates attached to and extending from both end edges thereoflengthwise of said body, each of said side plates being in the shape ofa right triangle disposed with one straight side parallel with one ofsaid end edges and its hypotenuse extending downwardly and outwardlyfrom the top of the spout box to a point on said body remote from saidspout box, said triangular plates being affixed to said spout box andsaid body, and a gusset plate connected with and extending between thehypotenuse edges of said triangular plates transversely of said body onopposite sides of said spout box, the upper edge of each of said gussetplates being affixed to the upper edge of said spout box, the lower edgeof each of said gusset plates being concave and conforming with andattached to the transverse contour of said body.

1. In a molten metal mixer ladle having a substantially ellipsoidalhollow body with a charging and discharging opening intermediate theends thereof, the improvement therewith of a substantially rectangularspout box formed of steel plates disposed on and communicating with saidopening, the ends of said spout box extending longitudinally of saidbody, plates attached to and extending from both end edges thereoflengthwise of said body, each of said side plates being in the shape ofa right triangle disposed with one straight side parallel with one ofsaid end edges and its hypotenuse extending downwardly and outwardlyfrom the top of the spout box to a point on said body remote from saidspout box, said triangular plates being affixed to said spout box andsaid body, and a gusset plate connected with and extending between thehypotenuse edges of said triangular plates transversely of said body onopposite sides of said spout box, the upper edge of each of said gussetplates being affixed to the upper edge of said spout box, the lower edgeof each of said gusset plates being concave and conforming with andattached to the transverse contour of said body.